rec.autos.simulators

Hey, I have that too - unopened...hang on...
<searches for game box>

Yep, here it is...cool!

Eldred
--
Homepage - http://www.racesimcentral.net/~epickett
My .sig file is in the shop for repairs...

Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Hell, I owned GPL for 2 years before I owned a PC that met the min
spec.

Jason

On Sat, 13 Jul 2002 01:47:00 GMT, "Steve Smith"

http://www.ekartingnews.com/

Dale Floyd

That's exactly the point. You may not feel the difference between 1/8th in
and 1/8th out, but you should be able to measure it in lap times and how
well you are performing in the corners based on relative distance to others.
The more you practice, the more you will feel small changes.

That's the game we're playing here. If it doesn't work one way, try the
opposite. If the kart is just sweet, write down your settings, weather,
temp, and track. See if you can figure out why it was working good that day
at that track. 1/4" ride height difference on one end will make or break you
at most tracks. Ask your fellow drivers. They will answer you every time.
It's how they learned and continue learning. As someone else mentioned, by
asking you will get into the ballpark at a given track. After that you can
judge your performance based on your competitors and make small changes to
suit.

I've never measured temp in my tires but I can tell you what they should
look like. Have you ever seen the crosshatch structure on new racing
snowboards? Like little elongated diamonds? That but smaller and rounder and
evenly distributed. Discoloration on any given portion of the tire
(inside/outside) or different 'hatching' will indicate where the weight has
been distributed while you were driving. This will help you adjust your
setup or driving style.You can see when you have been cornering correctly
quite easily when you know what to look for. Again, ask around. The people
you are racing with will help you learn what to look for and how to analyze
the differences.

I'm learning too and really don't have solid philosophies on any one part of
tuning. It's definitely a learn as you go thing. Most of the time you will
find everyone running about the same pressure at a track regardless of tire
type. There seems to be a lot of voodoo involved. I ask, take the median
pressure to both tires, then reduce either the front or rear to balance. I
use pressure to fine tune the grip. Less pressure seems to give more grip
and slows down the reaction on that end. Having only experience with road
courses I have seen pressures mostly from the 14-22 psi range. (Once in a
great while some guy is out there running 8. But he's got money I don't.
Tires go quick like that.)

My kart, a Gold Firefox, does not like wider tracks. It gets too grippy and
wants to go in a straight line. So you have to test, and decide what you
like. Obviously the clock makes the final decision. I change the front from
time to time if castor angle, tire pressure, or toe don't seem to do what I
want. This leads us to the rear track. If you have a rear tire that is 42
inches across and wants to push the kart straight through the corners, what
is the best way to shorten the track *while driving* it?

Easy, lift 3/4ths of it off the ground. Don't get too concerned with tuning
out the outside front wheels tendency to raise during steering. That is how
your kart is designed to work, and for good reason. The proper way to corner
is with that inside rear off the ground. Go faster. Until you spin at turn
in, you've still got grip left on that rear axle. You'll know the limit when
you go over it. :-)

Use your noodle. On my kart there is a rear ARB but no front ARB. What
happens if I loosen the bolts on the floor pan in the front by 1/2 turn
each? See where I'm going? Still, sometimes it's better to forget all this
technical stuff. Just set your kart in the middle of all adjustments (ride
height all the way low), set your gears and tire pressures to suggestions at
the track, and learn to drive it the way you want. Want it tighter, drive it
tighter.... forget the gadgets and learn speedcraft. (Barring any dreadful
tendencies, of course.)

Seat time, seat time, seat time. As much as you can get.

Hope I've helped,

mark

"Boy! You've got to have really big attachments to try a pass there... and
make it."
- David Hobbs